Improvement in machines for straightening rolled-metal plates



R. CROOKER.

Improvement in Machines for Straightening RoHed Metal-Plates.

No. 128,287, Ptented 1m 25,1812}.

l n e/ f A T wu esge's. Invemhv x UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

RALPH GRQOKER, OF BOSTON, MASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BAY STATE IRON COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR STRAlG-HTENING ROLLED-METAL PLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,287, dated June 25, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, RALPH UROOKER, of

7 Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of connection with the drawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification, is a description of my invention suflicient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

In the manufacture of rolled-metal plates, especially iron and steel plates, it is customary to hammer said plates to bring them to a uniform smoothness, the operation being tedious, laborious, and expensive. In my method of straightening such plates I employ a heavy roller acting upon the upper surface of the plate,the plate lyingupon a suitable smoothsurfaced bed, and the roller being driven to and fro automatically, and by its weight and continued movement soon reducing the plate to a desirable uniform smoothness. In organizing the rolling apparatus I journal the rollergudgeons in boxes at the front ends of two long bars, upon which bars are gear-racks or gear-teeth, which mesh into'and are driven by gear-pinions on a shaft journaled in housings in a stationary stand, these gears being driven by suitable power, and operating to drive the gear-racks and through them the roll forward and back, a suitable reversing mechanism being connected with the driving-shaft,

so that the forward-and-back movements may be rendered automatically successive, and the extent of such reciprocating movement regulated. It is in such a construction or organiza tion that my invention consists.

The drawing represents in plan and in side elevation an apparatus embodying the invention.

a denotes the roll; b, a cast-iron plate having a level upper surface. Upon this bed is placed the plate to be straightened. The gudgeon 0 turns in sliding boxes 01 mounted in the ends of bars 0, upon which bars are the gear-racks or teeth f, the bars passing through a stand, 9, and riding upon rolls h journaled in said stand, gear-pinions 'i meshing into the gear-teeth of the racks, and these pinions or the pinion-shafts being driven by connection with a suitable driving-shatt. The rear ends of the bars 6 are mounted on wheels k, which travel upon suitable track or rails l, and by applying suitable 'power and suitable reversing mechanism, the bars 0 and roll h are reciprocated over the bed 12, and the plate of metal laid thereupon in such manner that, by the weight and movement of the roll the plate is rapidly and uniformly smoothed.

I claim- The combination and arrangement of the roll a, reciprocating gear-racks f, gear-pinions i, and reversing-pulleys, operating together and in connection with the bed-plate, substantially as above described.

Executed this 11th day of April, A. D. 1872.

RALPH OROOKER.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS GOULD, M. W. FROTHINGHAM. 

